Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

The archie is finally finished having started this one in January this year. It has been a great learning experience and I will be starting another very shortly. Thanks to the forum member friends here who have helped me out with some questions along the way. In the end, just use your gut instinct and go for it.

Top: Lutz Spruce
Back and sides: Queensland Maple
Tailpiece fingerboard and pickguard: Ebony
Headplate and endgraft: Tasmanian Tiger Myrtle
Machine heads: Black Schallers
Pickup: Benedetto S-6 Humbucker
Neck: One piece figured Queensland Maple
Strings: D'addario Chromes

Here are a few pics






Thank you for looking

Cheers

Alan

Yay, it's done!
Awesome.
Well Done!!

Congrats!

For my taste it looks really great, and the top curvature looks very aesthetic (I hope it will be also perfect for the sound/tone).

Thank you for "letting look".

Cheers,

Alan, very nice choice of timbers, magnificent, I have one of these on my "To Do" list, How did you find the Lutz,with regard to working with and tone ?

Excellent effort Alan however you have spoilt us with sound files when posting your past builds so I hope the tradition will continue.

Cheers

Kim

The old Archie sure is a nice 'go to' axe.

Steve

Very nice Alan, very neat and clean lines, i like the look of the Lutz, is that from Shane? i got some from Shane a while back, haven't manage to get it out of the stash to use it yet though, i'll be happy if it turns out as clear as yours though
Cheers,,,

Rod.

An elegant looking instrument Alan.....alot of style.

Craig: Thanks mate for your support and advice while I was wrestling with this build. I have learnt heaps.

Markus: I had some fun and games with the re-curve process and have learnt to trust my instinct. The tone is woody and on the bright side. Nice sustain! There will be a small demo sound file shortly. Thanks for your comments.

Tod: The Lutz is magnificant spruce to work with. It didn't fur up and carved very easily. I did have trouble trying to cut the re-curve with a scraper blade across the grain. There must be a knack to that! I ended up making a small, shaped sanding stick and that worked a treat but took heaps of time. This is my first archie so I can't really comment about tone. The guitar has a bright tone but that could be the Queensland Maple doing that. As I said above the tone is woody, bright and with nice sustain.

Kim: Thanks Kim for your suport and encouragement. There will be a demo file very shortly.

Steve: Yep, the archie is a unique instrument. It begs to be played with some sweet jazz chord voicings. Pity I'm not a Jazz player! Time to learn a nice piece.

Rod: Thanks for your comments. The Lutz top came form Shane at High Mountain Tonewoods. It is a AA top and it displays beautiful silking. I am very happy with the ascetics of the top. Here is a better picture to show off the silking better.


Martin: Thanks for your support and comments. I'm just glad Mr Benedetto put those videos and book together so hobby guitars builders like myself can have a go.

Thanks again for all your kind comments.

Cheers

Alan

Very nice,neat & tidy looking job there Alan. I like the Tiger Myrtle headstock , it works well against the black of the tuner buttons/fingerboard & Lutz front. What sort of finish did you use? It looks like a satin but I've been known to be wrong... on several occasions

Thanks Nick for your kind words. It is a french polish using shellac flakes and is indeed a satin finish. The Lutz is beautiful to look at and work with. Great value and its a AA top too!!

Cheers

Alan

That's really beautiful, Alan!! I love the unadorned elegant look of that thing. Very nice.

Ron

Lovely work Al. I'd like to hear it too.

Regards.

Do any of you find yourselves going back to the same thread at least once a day?

Today I recorded the Archtop using my Zoom H1 recorder. The signal was a little hot in places so please excuse. I haven't had this recorder very long and find the level controls very sensative. I need more practise using it. The tune is my version of "Georgia" and I usually sing with this but it is the guitar that you need to hear! I am happy with the tone and sustain.

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... 05377&q=hi

Thank you for listening.

Merry Christmas

Alan